Electric well heater



INVEvToR (Sa/Mz /W BY% J. E. WILLIAMSON ELECTRIC WELL HEATER Filed Feb. 25

WITH :Ss

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Patented Nov. 25, 1924.

UNITED STATESy n l 1,516,836 PATENT oFFicE.

.IAIIEs E. WILLIAMSON, or PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, AssIeNoP. or oNE-HALP To HENRY P. LUEBPE, or PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTRIC WELL HEATER.

Application led February 23, 1923. Serial No. 620,757.

To all whom it may con-cem:

Be it known thatI, JAMEs E. IVILLIAM- son, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburgh, in'/ the county of Allegheny and `State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and `useful Improvements in Electric Well Heaters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention rela-tes to new and useful improvements in electric Well heaters adapted to be lowered into an oil-well and therein heated Aby electric current generated at the surface.

Important objects of this invention are to provide'a heater of the type stated, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, which willl function to soften and liquefy the congealed, solid, and semi-solid products of petroleum occurring in oil-wells after a period of vprolonged pumping and which obstruct the natural flow of oil, thereby restoring the normal oil production of the well; which provides for the contraction and expansion ot the heater parts subject-ed to varying temperatures;v and which embodies multiple electric heating units and check elements for augmenting the efliciency ot' the apparatus. lilurtlier objects of this invention are to provide an electric heater of the lclass described, which is simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durableand etlicient in its use, compact, andcomparatively inexpensive to manufacture and operate. With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of-parts hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made withinthe scope of what is claimed without departing from the principle ofthe invention.

In the drawing forming a portion of this specification yand wherein like numerals of reference designate 'corresponding parts throughout vthe several views:-

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of an electric heater in accordance with this in- 'vention Figures 2 and 3 are enlarged detail views of the upper and lower check valves, respectively, with associated parts, shown in cross sect-ion.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the hea-ter comprises a bod portion consisting of an elongated cylin rical casing 1 provided with a top cap 2 and a bottom cap 3.

The caps 2 and 3= have a screw thread connection with respective ends of the casing 1, and have their outer peripheral surfaces disposed to extend flush with the outer periphery of the casing 1, for the purpose of establishing an uninterrupted outer surface throughout t-lie length of the body portion to facilitate the travel of the heater when being lowered into the well or when being elevated therefrom.

Disposed centrally in the casing 1 is a vertically extending tube 4, which has its upper end threadably secured, as at '5, in the top cap 2. The lower end of the tube 4 projects as at 10, to the top cap v2 and projects up wardly therefrom. A foraminous member, consisting of a hollow metal ball 11, is fixed to the. upper `end of the )ipe 9 and` communicates therewith. The all,11 is formed with a plurality of small peiforations 12'f0r the purpose to be described. The top portion of the ball 11 is formed with a suitable aperture 13 adapted for securing the supporting cable 14 therein. The aperture 13 does not communicate with the interior of the hollow ball 11 but extends transversely through the solidly formed top portion thereof.

The entire lengthof the tube 4 within the casing 1, with the exception of its upper portion 15 and its lower portion 15', is covered with suitable insulation 16, upon which is coiled the resistance wire in a man` ner to provide the multiple heating series 17 and 18. The electrical energy is supplied from its source by the supply conductor 19,

which enters the casing through an im perviously mounted insulator 20 in the top ca 2.

he lower terminus of the coil `forming the heating unit 17 is connected9 as at 21, to the conductor 19, while the upper end thereof is grounded on the upper portion 15 of the tube 4 through the contact 22. The upper end of the coil forming the heating unit 18, connects with tlieconductor 19, as indicated at 23, and the lower 4terminus thereof is grounded on the lower portion 15" of the tube 4 through the contact 26.

The winding arrangementof the heating element in multiple series as above described will not only save the insulation' on the supply or positive'conductor 19 yby using low voltage and high amperage,` but will give high resistance between the' positive conductor 19 and the negative coiiductor,` which latter is the supporting cable 14- and.

is connected with the electrical generator during the operationof the heater. While the multiple series heating elem-ent is illustrated as comprising but two units it will connected with the tube 4 and carries a dey pending reduced intake' nippie '30. The function of the check valve 27 is to permit n of the entrance of the Huid into the tube and are .provided for the purpose of guard-' ing the multiple heating series 17 and 18 from vpossible contact with Ithe inner wall of the casing 1. f

In practice my improved heater is lowered into an oil-well by the supporting cable 14. lVhen the device has been intensely heated by the current generated at the surface, the congealed products of petroleum surrounding the heater will be liquidized. Upon attaining a. certain teniperature the heated liquid will operate the valve27 and pass upwardly into the tube j4 through thenipple 30. In its passage through the tube 4 the liquid will be vaporized and forced through the valve 31 and be di'used into the area surrounding.

ysaid casing, a fluid conductor extending verticallythrou-gh said casing and 'threadablyvengaging said top cap and shiftably engaging said bottom cap, a multiple series electrical `heating element carried by said conductor, means for supplying electrical current to said element, and a pair of check valves 'carried by said conductor for rctarding the' passage of the Huid through said conductor, and a foraminous. hollow member fixed to the upper end of said conductor for diffusing the fluid when expelled fro1n said conductor.

2. An, electric heater for the purpose set forth comprising an elongated cylindrical casing,'a top-cap .threadably connected to the upper end of said casing a bottom cap threadab'ly connecte-dto the lower end of said casing, a iuid'- conductor extending vertically through said-'casing and threadably engaging said top cap and shiftably engaging said bottom cap, multiple series electrical heating element carried by said conductora and means for supplying electrical current to said element, the peripheral surfaces of said top and bottom caps being Hush with the peripheral surface of said casing. I

3. An electric heater for the purpose set forth comprising an elongated cylindrical casing, a top cap tl'ireadably connected to the upper end of said casing, a bottom cap threadably connected to the lower end of said casing, a uid conductor extending vertically through said casing and threadably engaging said top capV and shiftably engaging said bottom cap, a multiple series electrical heating element carried by said conductor, and 'means for supplying electrical current to said element, means for retarding the movement ofthe Huid through said conductor7 the peripheral surfaces of said top and bottom caps being flush with the peripheral surface of said casing.

4. An electric heater for the purpose set forth comprising an elongated cylindrical casing, a top cap threadably connected to by said..

remesa conductor, means for supplying electrical current to said element, and a pair of check valves carried by said conductor for retarding the passage of the fluid through said conductor, the peripheral surfaces of said top and bottom caps being lush with the peripheral surface of said casing.

5. An electric heater for the purpose set forth comprising an elongated cylindrical casing, a top cap threadably connected to the upper end of said casing, a bottom cap threadably connected to the lower end of said casing, a fluid conductor extending vertically throu h said casing and threadably engaging said top cap and shiftably engaging said bottom cap, a multiple series electrical heating element carried by saidconductor,V and means for supplying electrical current to said element, and a foraminous hollow member fixed to the .upper end of said conductor for dilusing the iluid when expelled from said conductor, the peripheral surfaces of said top and bottom caps being llush with the peripheral surface of said casin g. An electric heater for the purpose set forth comprising an elongated cylindrical casing, a top capthreadably connected to the upper end of said casing, a bottom cap threadably connected to the lower end of said casing, a fluid conductor extending verl tically through said casing and threadably engaging sai top cap and shiftably engaging said bottom cap, a multiple series electrical heating element carried by said conductor, and Ameans for supplying electrical current to said element, means or retarding the movement of the fluid through said conductor, and a oraminous hollow mem- Iber fixed to the up er end of said conductor for dilusing t e fluid when expelled from said conductor, the peripheral surfaces of said top and bottom caps being lush with the peripheral surface of said casing.

7. An electric heater for the purpose set forth comprising an elongated cylindrical casing; a top cap threadably connected to the upper end of said casing, a bottom cap threadably connected to the lower end of lsaid casing, a fluid conductor extending vertically through said casing and threadably engaging said top cap and shiftably engaging saidv bottom cap, a multiple series electrical heating element carried by said conductor, means for supplying electrical current to said element, and a pair of check valves carried by said conductor for retard- ,ing the passage of the duid through said conductor, and a foraminous hollow member fixed to the upper Tend of said conductor for didusing the flu/id when expelled from said conductor, the peripheral surfaces of said top and bottom caps being flush with the peripheraly surface of said casing.

8. An electric heater' for the purpose set forth comprising a closed hollow casing, a fluid conductor extending through said `casing, an electric heating element mounted on said conductor, and means associated with said conductor `for yvaporizing said fluid on itsv passage through'a said conductor, and means for supplying electrical current to said element.

9. An electric heater for the purposeset forth comprising a closed hollow casing, a fluid conductor extending through said casing, an electric heating element mounted on said conductor, means for supplying electrical current to said element, and check valves mounted on said conductor for retarding the movement of the fluid through said conductor or vaporizing the fluid on its passage through said conductor.

10. An electric heater for the purpose'set forth comprising a closed hollow casing, a fluid conductor extending through said casing, an electric heating element mounted on said conductor, means for supplying electrical current to said element, and means associated vwith said conductor for vaporizing said luid on its passage throu h said conductor, and a oramnous mem r mounted on the top of said conductor for difusin the vaporized fluid when expelled from sai conductor.

11. .An electric heater for the purpose set forth comprising a closed hollow casing, a fluid conductor extending through said casing, an electric heating element mounted on said conductor, means :for supplying electri- `cal current to said element, check Valves mounted on said conductor for retarding the movement of the fluid through said conductor for vaporizin the fluid on its passage through said con uctor, and a foraminous member mounted on the top of said conductor for diffusing the vaporized fluid when expelled from said conductor.

In testimon whereof I ailix my si J MES E. WILLI ature. SON. 

